Wednesdays November 4th & 18th @4-5:30pm
Jason Kiley of OneEyedCat Crafts will guide students through the creation of their own wacky, weird, lumpy clay creatures — the only limits are your imagination and the structrual integrity of our clay.
Come join us in this adventure of a beginning ceramics class where we will be creating unusual creatures from life and our imaginations. The focus of this class will be on the process of working with clay over the perfection of the final work. Students will learn the basics of hand building in clay while using their imaginations to create fantastic creatures. As the title of the class suggests, the creations will most likely be a little lumpy, or awkward, but that is where their charm will lay. Think of Jimothy the raccoon. If you don’t know of Jimothy yet do yourself a favor and find out. I hope you can join us in this hand building extravaganza!
During the initial session on November 4th, students will have plenty of time to explore hand-building techniques and sculpt their critters. Then, on the 18th, you will be invited to paint your creations with underglaze and bring them to life in full color. We will contact participants after the final firing to pick up their completed critters.
For this extra special session only, guardians are welcome to drop their kiddos off at RACK and return at the end of class. Though if you’d like to hang around to observe, or chill in the Pansy Garden and enjoy the scenery, you are more than welcome! If guardians want to participate in creating their own critters, we ask that they register themselves as well as their children.
Coming January 2027:
Six Week Beginner Wheel Throwing
Four Week Pottery 102 w/ Maureen Karlstad
Join RACK staff to learn how to wedge, center, and pull clay to build small cups and bowls. Materials are included. If you’d like to have us trim, fire, glaze, and return up to 3 pieces to you, there is an additional $25 fee, which you can pay in person after class. Otherwise, we will show you how to smash and recycle your clay! You decide if you’d like to keep or recycle your pieces at the end of class.
Note — this class may be rescheduled if we have low enrollment, so please sign up beforehand to make sure we save you a spot and have a good headcount!
Studio Guidelines:
Those under 14 years of age must have a guardian on the property. Guardians may participate in the workshop, but must register separately.
RACK is a working studio space with moving equipment. Participants must wear closed-toed shoes, and long hair must be tied back for your safety.
Please avoid wearing hand lotions and heavy nail polish. They may interfere with the chemistry of our clay and glaze.
Avoid wearing scented clothing or cosmetics — RACK is a fragrance-free space.
If you’re sick, stay home! We will reschedule your session for free.
Accessibility: This class requires the use of moderate upper limb strength and some fine motor skills. Standard use of electric wheels involves operation of a foot pedal, but this may be adapted for those with limited leg mobility. Our bathroom is not yet ADA accessible. If you have questions about accessibility or adaptive use of the space, email us at info@rackviroqua.com
Please let us know if you will have an aide or service animal present. Aides are not considered workshop participants unless they register separately.
Please alert staff if you have a pacemaker or other electronic implanted device, as some of our equipment uses electromagnets.
Give the Wheel a Whirl
Ongoing: select ThursdayS & Saturdays Thru November
One-time class — Intro to wheel throwing + RACK studio orientation
Come get your hands dirty and join Hawthorn or Elena in exploring the basics of wheel-thrown pottery. This hour and half class will cover wedging, centering, and raising a simple pot, as well as guiding students around our space and introducing studio etiquette and workflow.
If you’d like to have us trim, fire, glaze, and return up to 3 pieces to you, there is an additional $25 fee, which you can pay in person after class. Otherwise, we will show you how to smash and recycle your clay! You decide if you’d like to keep or recycle your pieces at the end of class.
Note — this class may be rescheduled if we have low enrollment, so please sign up beforehand to make sure we save you a spot and have a good headcount!
If you have a group of 3 or more, you can also contact us to schedule your own private session! Just email info@rackviroqua.com
*This class is required for those who wish to become monthly members, unless you contact us for a experience-based waiver and separate orientation.
CREATE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE
private classes
We can fit up to 5 folks for wheel classes, up to 8 for handbuilding.
Wheel throwing is most accessible for those over the age of 12 due to body mechanics, and there is a lot of fragile artwork and moving equipment in the studio, so wheel classes might not be the best option for younger kiddos.
Please note that RACK is a sober space, so while we cannot host a ‘wine and craft night,’ we welcome tea and mocktails.
We are happy to discuss your unique situation and ideas, though, so please reach out to us at info@rackviroqua.com